TURIN, Italy (Reuters) – Twice ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev outclassed four-times major winner Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(5) 6-4 to progress to the semi-finals of the season-ending championship on Friday and leave the Spaniard on the brink of elimination.
German Zverev came into the contest as the group leader with two wins from two matches — against eighth-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev and Norwegian sixth seed Casper Ruud — but needed to win at least one set against Alcaraz to book his place in the semis.
Third seed Alcaraz needed a win of his own, but could still qualify for the semis via percentage of games won — but only if Rublev beats Ruud in straight sets later on Friday.
With the win, second seed Zverev ensured a first-place finish in John Newcombe Group.
Both players failed to find consistency in a tight opening set as momentum swung back and forth before Zverev came out on top.
Zverev won 73% of his points on serve and thumped 29 winners in the one hour and 57-minute contest, taking a 6-5 head-to-head advantage over Alcaraz.
Since reaching his first semi-final at the ATP Finals in 2018, only record 24-times Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic (five) has made it to the semis of the tournament more than the 27-year-old German, who has booked his place four times.
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)
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